MARS — A three-time MVP his senior year in high school, a record-setting power hitter at Penn State University and in his hometown of Mars.

Such a resume' is landing Mike Sheehy in the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame.

“All I did was play sports as a kid,” Sheehy said. “We went from one sport to the next. That was a great time in my life.

“My love for baseball and the relationships we built on that Mars (Eagle County) team kept me playing there well into my 40s.”

The 1985 Mars graduate will be inducted into the county sports Hall at the organization's annual banquet at 6 p.m. April 23 at the Butler Days Inn.

Sheehy received the Eythe Williams Award, awarded annually to the Outstanding Senior Athlete at Mars. He was named baseball MVP for the Planets his junior and senior seasons. Sheehy was MVP in basketball and football his senior year as well.

A guard in basketball, he averaged 17 points per game. He played quarterback and safety in football.

“I set school records of 42 points in a game in basketball and 11 interceptions in a season in football,” Sheehy said. “I was proud of those accomplishments.”

He went on to accomplish a lot more.

Sheehy attended Penn State University and set the freshman home run record for the Nittany Lions. He hit eight round-trippers that year as the team's left fielder. He had played shortstop, outfield and pitched in high school.

Bothered by a sore foot his sophomore season, Sheehy did not see much action before being drafted in the 14th round by the California Angels. He spent five years in the Angels' farm system, reaching high Class A.

“My rookie year was pretty much ruined by that foot ailment,” Sheehy recalled. “Dr. James Andrews was on the Angels' staff at the time and they sent me to see him. He diagnosed my foot problem as plantar fasciitis. With the proper treatment, I was fine.

“I just needed that diagnosis about 18 months earlier. I lost some valuable time there.”

Injuries eventually ended Sheehy's professional career. He had surgery on a torn rotator cuff and when he tried pitching to prolong his career, he injured an elbow.

“That was pretty much it,” he admitted.

Only 25 years old, Sheehy returned home and embarked upon a lengthy semi-pro baseball career. He was part of six Eagle County championship teams with Mars after helping Callery win the title in 1992.

He also played for three championship teams in the Pittsburgh Federation League.

Sheehy estimates he hit “150 to 170” home runs in Eagle County play. He hit 20 in one season and averaged roughly 15 homers per season in what was only a 26-game schedule.

Longtime Mars pitcher Rob Fester became one of Sheehy's closest friends and remains so to this day.

“Rob definitely belongs in that Hall of Fame,” Sheehy said. “I'd gladly lead the campaign to get him in there.

“We had some great competition in Eagle County ball through the years. Mars and Saxonburg were classic rivalries for years and we had tough battles with Harmony. I'll always remember those days.”

Sheehy's daughter, Elise, was a senior on the Mars section champion girls basketball team this season. His son Thomas, 15, is a freshman at Mars and plays football and baseball.

“I've coached a lot of his teams as he was growing up. That was so much fun,” Sheehy said. “Elise will be going to Penn State and I'm excited about that.

“Sports always provides people a sense of direction. I know it happened that way for me.”

Tickets for the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame banquet are $30 in advance, $35 at the door. They are available at bcshof.com, Parker's Appliance in Chicora, Saxonburg Drug, Moses Jewelers, Snack n' Pack and Bill's Beer Barn in Butler.